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Getting Ready for the Riverside Halloween Fest

In case you hadn’t heard, the annual Riverside Halloween Fest is coming up!

Riverside Halloween Fest is happening on October 27 (10am-3pm) at Riverside Common (657 Queen St E) and Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson St).

It’s going to be an exciting day filled with fun activities for the whole family, from local vendors to face painting to pumpkin decorating, with lots of treats.

Before we indulge in all the Halloween shenanigans, here’s a few reminders:

Plan your day.

This year’s Riverside Halloween Fest is a big one as there are two venues, so we suggest coming early or at least planning what you want to do (especially if you want to get those free treats first) as quantities of freebies are limited.

Prepare your costumes.

Come in your spookiest ensemble! We love to see people go all out with their Halloween looks. If you don’t have a costume yet, you might find one at one of our local vintage shops Second Voyage Vintage, Common Sort, Good Juice Box Vintage or Ran’s Closet, and pick up some accessories at Arts Market.

Tell your family and friends.

Bring the whole gang. Spread the word! From pumpkins to face painting to Halloween vendors, there’s something for everyone–and it’s free admission!

Bring your dogs.

When we say “everybody is welcome”, we mean everybody. There’s plenty to do at Riverside Common, but the real fun for the pups will be over at Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson St). Did we mention there’s going to be a dog costume contest?

Did somebody say “Ghost Walk”?!

There is even a guided Ghost Walk happening during the festival (1pm). Get your ticket for just $5 and experience spooky local stories, led by Shari Kasman (artist, writer, and seasoned ghost walk leader!).  The stories are all based on historical facts, but spooky fictional details will be included. Your ticket includes a snack at a local Riverside business and entry to our prize draw!  Ticket proceeds to be donated to a local charity. 

RSVP for any/ all of the above here:

RSVP.

Let us know you’re coming. When you pre-register, you can get event deets and other important updates straight to your inbox. Get your free tickets here.

Connect with us on Instagram (@riverside_bia) so you’re always in the loop as to what’s happening in the neighbourhood. See you on October 27!

Stock images from Pexels

Getting Ready for the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition

The first Riverside Vintage Crawl in June was such a hit, we’re doing another round–a Halloween edition!

On October 17 (6pm-10pm), your favorite vintage stores in Riverside will be curating clothing and accessories perfect for the spooky season.

Aside from cool vintage pieces, there will be Halloween music and refreshments as well, plus enter our Raffle in stores. Just like the first installment, the stores will also be covering the tax for all purchases made in-store during the event.

We’re all excited to go shopping but before we go on another fun night of all things vintage, we’ve got a few reminders:

Plan your Route.

Just like you did for trick or treating as a kid, but easier, since we’ve got five participating Vintage Shops within just a few blocks, you should have no problem finding and visiting them all!

Photo credit: Second Voyage Vintage

Prepare costume references.

The event is only four hours so you want to come with a mission. That means having a costume in mind, so you know what pieces to look for. A list of items would be helpful as well.

Photo credit: Pexels

Dress strategically.

Wear a jacket that’s easy to take on and off. A tank top or a t-shirt works great as a base layer so it’s easy to try on clothes. All the participating stores have changing rooms.

Photo credit: Pexels

Bring a reusable bag.

Don’t forget to bring a reusable shopping bag or two to put your purchases in, especially if you plan on doing quite a bit of shopping.

Photo credit: Pexels

Follow the vintage stores on social.

They usually post pieces they have in store, so you get dibs if you follow their accounts. Feel free to tag them during the event too!

RSVP.

Give us a heads up that you’re coming. When you sign up, you get event details, perks and promos straight to your inbox. Get your free tickets here.

Reminder to check out all participating Locations:

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on the Riverside Vintage Crawl and other exciting happenings in the neighbourhood. See you on Thursday!

A Barkin’ Good Time at Riverside Halloween Fest

In Toronto’s Riverside, Halloween isn’t just for the kids. This year, we’ve prepared a fun day for all our dog parents and pups.

For Riverside Halloween Fest on October 27 (10am-3pm), bring your pups over to Joel Weeks Park at 10 Thompson Street for a barkin’ good time. 

Here’s everything happening for the dogs at Riverside Halloween Fest:

Dog Costume Contest

Show off your dog’s best Halloween costume and get a chance to win prizes from local vendors and businesses. Awards include Best in Show, People’s Choice, Most Creative, Most Original and Best Pair a.k.a. Dog + Owner. Sign up here. 

Photo BOOth

Immortalize your Riverside Halloween Fest experience by snapping a pic at the free photobooth, courtesy of Jenny & Shane Sage Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage.

No Tricks, Just Treats

We’ll be giving away free treats to all the doggos. You better come early though as they come in limited quantities.

Shop Small

If you missed the Dog Lovers’ Market last month, here’s your chance to shop delicious treats and cute dog accessories while supporting small businesses.

Doggy Donation Drive

Bring new or your gently used dog toys and supplies, Save Our Scruff will be there to receive them! 

We’ve got an exciting lineup of events happening in the neighbourhood this month so be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates!

Stock images from Pexels

Small Acts, Big Impact : 5 Ways To Support Small Businesses Everyday

Toronto’s Riverside is not only a neighbourhood rich in culture and history; it’s also home to a diverse community of small-scale entrepreneurs, from food to fashion to beauty.

In celebration of small businesses during this Small Business Week (Oct 20-26th) and everyday, here are five ways you can show up for the amazing businesses that you love: 

Have a ‘small business first’ mindset.

Whenever you want to purchase something, think of your local shops near you first, before resorting to the big box stores or online ordering.

For example, looking for a cool jacket for the fall? Check out local vintage shops first.

Explore Local and Attend Community Events.

Check out our online directory for an updated list of all the businesses in our BIA. Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood, and check out our local narrated tour here.

Weekend markets are great places to not only shop from small businesses, but also to meet the people behind them and know their stories. We love organizing markets in Riverside. Check out our event calendar to see what we have coming up.

Shop local.

With the holidays just around the corner, this might be a good time to slowly start working on that list. For Halloween costuming, check out the Riverside Vintage Crawl and for holiday gifts swing by the Local Holiday Market at Riverside Common on November 24. There will be plenty of amazing small businesses to check out.

Leave a review.

Google and Yelp are popular review platforms where you can share your experience to other users. A lot of people check reviews before going, so don’t think one review won’t matter. Your kind words will go a long way.

Spread the word on social media.

Small businesses don’t have advertising budgets like big companies do, so social media is the best tool to leverage. Post about them. Tag them in your Stories. Follow their accounts. Social media is how people discover things now.

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood!

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition: What’s Happening?

Shortly after the success of the first Riverside Vintage Crawl in June, there was clamor for a follow-up–and we heard you!

Join us on October 17th from 6pm to 10pm as your favorite vintage shops in Toronto’s Riverside are coming together again for a Halloween edition of the popular Riverside Vintage Crawl.

If you’re still searching for a costume for Halloween this year, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and find something unique, while supporting small businesses.

Before we go on another fun night of vintage shopping, here’s everything you need to know about the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition:

Photo credit: Common Sort

Shop Halloween costumes and accessories.

From hats to coats to shoes to jewelry to little knick-knacks, the participating stores will be curating all things spooky and stylish for this event. 

Photo credit: Ran’s Closet

Save the tax (in store).

Like the first Riverside Vintage Crawl, the shops will be covering the HST for all purchases made during the event; so take advantage of this sweet deal!

Photo credit: Second Voyage Vintage

Vibe to Halloween tunes while shopping.

What’s a party without good music? Jam to nostalgic Halloween songs while browsing through the wide selection of vintage goodies. Who knows, it might even spark an idea for a costume!

Photo credit: Good Juice Box Vintage

Enjoy complimentary treats and refreshments.

If you find yourself feeling parched or peckish during the vintage crawl, help yourself to drinks and nibbles that participating shops have available.

Enter the prize raffle in store.

Make sure to ask about the raffle when you drop by the stores so you can have a chance to win a cool surprise!

Participating Locations:

Don’t forget to let us know you’re coming so we can send event deets straight to our inbox. RSVP to the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition here.

We’ve got an exciting line-up of events this month so be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram to stay in the loop!